Profile
When he first arrived on the scene in 2000, Zaheer Khan- with his lively pace and ability to dig in toe-crushing yorker - was a phenomenon like none that India had seen before. Now, a decade on, he continues to live up to that promise becoming one of the best bowlers of his generation.
At 21, the left-armer made a big move when he sacrificed a career in engineering to pursue one on the cricketing field. Khan started playing for Baroda in 1999 and only a year into domestic cricket was called up to the Indian side. He made an impressive start against Kenya in the 'ICC Knockout Trophy' picking up 3 wickets on debut and was brilliant throughout the tournament playing a major role in India's road to the final. He was immediately inducted into the Test side and thereafter became a regular fixture in the Indian squad. A brilliant 2002 season capped by 89 wickets announced his arrival on the international stage but in 2003-04, a hamstring injury which was later found out to be a nerve-twitch, hampered his progress. The selectors continued to rest their faith in him but form and fitness combined with the emergence of competition like Sreesanth and RP Singh, meant that he wasn't assured of a place in the side anymore.
Khan's tumultuous tale reached its climax in 2006 when he was dropped after the Pakistan series and was demoted to a C-Grade contract by the BCCI. He then came up with a befitting reply prizing 78 wickets for Worcestershire forcing his way back into the Indian team. A leaner, fitter Khan emerged with a shortened run up and a moulded bowling action to lead India's attack with renewed vigour. His fight-back began in South Africa and was followed up by a historic Test series triumph in England where he ended up as the highest wicket-taker.
With his perfect seam action and his ability to swing both ways, Khan is sort of destructive bowler who any team would yearn to call their own. That coupled with his lethal reverse swing with the old ball explains why the Baroda lad has become one of the most feared bowlers in world cricket. Zaheer Khan with his current achievements is already an inspiration to young Indian quickies. But the speedster's career is far from over. He dreams of going one step further to emulate the legendary Wasim Akram and for the lionhearted optimist that he is, even this herculean task is none too tall for him to conquer.
Fast Facts
- He is India's most successful left-arm seamer and the third most successful in the world in both Tests and ODIs.
- He is India's most successful fast bowler after Kapil Dev in Tests.
- He is only one of five Indian players to have taken more than 200 wickets in Tests and ODIs.
- He is only the third Indian bowler to have taken more than 150 Test wickets outside India.
- He is currently one of only three Indian fast bowlers in Tests to have taken seven or more five-wicket hauls away from home.
- He was India's highest wicket taker in the 2003 WC.
- In county cricket, he became the first Worcestershire player to take 10 wickets in a match on debut for over 100 years.
- He was the highest wicket-taker in 2007 picking up an astonishing 81 wickets in Tests and ODIs
- His 75 against Bangladesh is currently the highest Test score to have been achieved by a number 11 batsman.
- He also shares the India's highest tenth wicket partnership (133) with Sachin Tendulkar in Tests.
- Against Australia in 2008, he became the third Indian after Rusi Surti and Kapil Dev to score a half century and take five wickets in an innings in the same match.
Statistics
| Matches | Innings | Runs | NO | Avg. | SR | 100's | 50's | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 77 | 102 | 1021 | 22 | 12.76 | 49.80 | 0 | 3 |
| ODI | 177 | 91 | 719 | 35 | 12.83 | 76.48 | 0 | 0 |
| T20 | 12 | 4 | 13 | 2 | 6.5 | 130 | 0 | 0 |
| IPL | 31 | 16 | 66 | 10 | 11 | 98.50 | 0 | 0 |
Career
Span:- Test:
- 2000-2010
- ODI:
- 2000-2010
- T20:
- 2006-2010
- IPL:
- 2008-2010
- CLT20:
- 2010-2010
- Test
- Debut:
- India Vs Bangladesh at Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka - Nov 10, 2000
- Last played:
- India Vs South Africa at Kingsmead, Durban - Dec 26, 2010
- ODI
- Debut:
- India Vs Kenya at Nairobi Gymkhana Club Ground, Nairobi - Oct 03, 2000
- Last played:
- India Vs New Zealand at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore - Karnataka - Dec 07, 2010
- T20
- Debut:
- India Vs South Africa at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg - Dec 01, 2006
- Last played:
- India Vs West Indies at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados - May 09, 2010
- IPL
- Debut:
- Royal Challengers Bangalore Vs Kolkata Knight Riders at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore - Karnataka - Apr 18, 2008
- Last played:
- Mumbai Indians Vs Chennai Super Kings at Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai - Apr 25, 2010
- CLT20
- Debut:
- Mumbai Indians Vs Highveld Lions at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg - Sep 10, 2010
- Last played:
- Mumbai Indians Vs Royal Challengers Bangalore at Kingsmead, Durban - Sep 19, 2010
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